If you are like most of our clients—and, according to a recent Nielsen survey, 95% of pet owners—you consider your pet to be part of your family. And if you’re like 90 percent of cat-only owners and 96 percent of dog-only owners surveyed by VetStreet, you buy holiday gifts for your pet.
According to VetStreet, half the owners who buy gifts for their cat spend $10 to $25, 22% spend less than $10, 19% spend $26 to $50, 7% spend $51 to $100 and 2% spend more than $100.
Nearly half of gift-giving dog owners spend in the $10 to $25 range, 26% spend $26 to $50, 15% spend less than $10, 8% spend $51 to $100 and 3% give their dogs gifts costing more than $100.
Treats were the most popular gift for dogs, followed by toys. Owners said they were less than half as likely to buy holiday-themed gifts for their dogs, followed by leashes, collars, harnesses, bowls, feeders and beds.
The most popular gifts for cats were treats and toys, followed by “home items” like scratching posts, cat trees, beds and bowls and holiday-themed toys and clothing.
Of those who own dogs or cats, 66% also buy gifts for other people’s pets.
A November 2022 survey by online pet supplies retailer Chewy.com found that 94% of pet owners shop for holiday gifts for pets, 58% wrap the pets’ presents and 87% hang Christmas stockings for pets. Among the pet owners responding to the survey, 58% said they usually buy their pets two to three gifts, generally spending about $50.
Gift Ideas
Type “Christmas gifts for pets” into a search engine, and you’ll see dozens of sponsored links to shopping sites, along with multiple rows of images advertising individual products.
We suggest the following articles to guide your gift-giving this holiday season.
- From The New York Times Wirecutter newsletter, here are “The 18 Best Gifts for Dogs” and “The 17 Best Gifts for Cats.”
- For 2023, the Spruce Pets suggests “The 9 Best Dog Christmas Stockings (And Stuffers Too!),” “The 22 Best Dog Stocking Stuffers Around $10” and “The 12 Best Holiday Dog Treats of 2023.”
- For more gift ideas for dogs and cats, visit “The 50 Best Christmas Gifts for Dogs and Dog Lovers of 2022” and “The 48 Best Christmas Gifts for Cats and Cat Lovers” on the Spruce Pets website.
What’s Under Your Tree?
What’s on your Christmas shopping list for the dogs and cats in your life? We think treats are a wonderful choice, so long as your pet doesn’t overindulge on Christmas morning. Ideally, the gift of treats will last well into the new year!
In choosing toys, we recommend playthings designed specifically for pets. Avoid toys that can be swallowed, either whole or in parts.
In return, you’ll receive the gifts of love and loyalty from your pet.
Happy holidays from the Brownsburg Animal Clinic family to yours!